New Head Coach Brian Herdlein wins his first game on the road as the
Knights explode for
28 points in the second half versus the gritty Letchworth-Warsaw Red
& Black (no typo,
that is the name of the newly merged program). Senior Nick Egeling rolls
over the opposition
with 256 yards on 20 carries and 4 TDs as the Knights garner 426 yards
of total offense.
Reed Kacur leads the defensive charge with 9 stops, Nick and Dom Filio
split 12 tackles,
while Anthony Natrigo and Luke Hogle have 5 and 4 tackles respectively.

Mary Purdy etches her name into the rich lore of LeRoy football as she
becomes the first
female player in school history. She was a perfect 6 of 6 on PAT kicks
as the team's place kicker.

Game
videography by EJ Henry - leroyfootball.com

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Game
recap by Barney Mase - LeRoy Football Team Statistician

GAINESVILLE
- It was most definitely a "knight" of firsts as the LeRoy
Oatkan Knights opened defense of their 2014 Section 5 Class C football
crown on the road in Gainesville, NY, home of the newly formed Letchworth-Warsaw
Red & Black football squad. For the first time since 1989 there
was a different head coach for the LeRoy varsity football program.
By now everyone knows that Brian Herdlein, just like his predecessors
Jim Laemlein in 1984 and Brian Moran in 1989, won his first varsity
outing. For the first time since the 80's, there was a different defensive
coordinator. Pete Greene takes over as the master of defense from
the legendary defensive guru Andrew Paladino. For the first time since
October 21st, 2011 there was a different QB starting for the LeRoy
varsity not named Mike McMullen (AGR first team selection and the
LeRoy record holder of 59 career TD passes, which happens to be fourth
best all time in Section 5 for career TD passes). The Josh Laurie
era has started. Josh displayed immense poise, a strong arm, as well
as great running abilities in the opener. For the first time in LeRoy
football history, there is a female playing football. Her name is
Mary Purdy and she is the real deal. Mary's debut was an excellent
one as she was a perfect 6-for-6 in PAT kicks in her first varsity
game. Mary belongs. Let's talk about the game.

I received
my Livingston County News today. I opened it up to the sports section
and there were 7 players displayed on the front cover listed as key
players to watch this 2015 season. They were all deserving, but I
believe the paper forgot one, the Knights' Nick Egeling. Nick showed
tonight why he will be one of the top players in the LCAA football
league. Nick amassed 256 yards rushing while scoring 4 TDs and registering
6 tackles. Not a bad start for his senior year as the Oatkan Knights
spoiled the debut of the Letchwoth-Warsaw merged team 42-7.

LeRoy
received the opening kickoff, starting their drive at their own 12-yard
line. Facing a 3rd-and-7 from the 15, Nick peeled off a 11-yarder
for the first down. On the next play he races 28 yards into the opponent's
territory. Nate Flint picks up 9, Josh Laurie 4, and then Nick scores
the inaugural TD of the season on a 7-yard blast up the middle run.
Mary Purdy etches her name into LeRoy (and LCAA) history as she easily
boots the PAT strongly through the uprights.

LeRoy's
second drive ended on downs, but the drive that followed again hit
pay dirt. Starting at their own 36: Laurie for 6, Flint for 15, Laurie
for 4, Egeling for 5, 15 and 8, Flint for 7 and 3, before Josh sneaks
through the linemen for the 1 yard score. Mary kicks the extra point
and it is LeRoy in control at 14-0.

Letchworth-Warsaw
drove down nicely to the LeRoy 8 with just 1.4 seconds remaining in
the first half. Fine pass coverage by the Knights' Justin Green prevented
a TD pass as the half ended. The host Red & Black played a very
strong first half against the Knights and were most definitely still
in the contest and fired up for the second half.

Letchworth-Warsaw
put together a nice scoring drive to start the second half, cutting
the LeRoy lead to just 14-7, which ignited the spirits and hopes of
the local fans. The next LR drive stalls, but fine special teams play
came through. A nice punt by Dave Privatera and fine punt coverage
forced Letchworth-Warsaw to start at their own 18-yard line. A dead
ball penalty forces a 2nd-and-20 from the 8. Reed Kacur drops the
L-W runner for a 1-yard loss and then on third down Reed bats the
ball down at the line of scrimmage, forcing a punt. The Knights earn
excellent field position at the L-W 39. Egeling wastes no time, going
the distance in one play. Mary kicks the extra point, LeRoy 21-7.

The next
LeRoy series starts on the opponents' 40. An offensive pass interference
wipes out a nice Josh Laurie to Reed Kacur pass. That would not stop
the Knights. Nick runs for 22, Dom Filio for 4, and then Nick for
29 and the TD. Mary kicks the extra point to push the Knights' lead
to 28-7.

On the
ensuing kickoff Anthony Natrigo drills the ball off a Letchworth-Warsaw
player and Nate Montoya recovers the loose ball. Nick powers for 14,
Filio tacks on 14 of his own, Nick gallops for another 24, before
Nick plows into the end zone from 1 yard out, TD. Mary kicks her fifth
PAT to make it 35-7 for Brain Herdlein's Knights.

The Knights'
final drive went as follows: Josh Laurie to Ryan Boyce for 9, Nate
Flint for 5, Dom Filio for 10, Josh for 2, Dom for 12, Nate for 2,
with Josh taking it in from 3 yards out for the final TD. Mary kicks
her sixth extra point to make the final score LeRoy 42 Letchworth-Warsaw
7.